Refers to a person from the state of Indiana. Most people including Hoosiers themselves don’t even know how the term originated. Early folklore suggests it originated from early settlers who said “who’s yer” when answering their door. Another theory states that it came from early fierce rivermen called “hushers” who would “hush” or silence their adversaries. By the early 1800s "hoosier" was widely used in Indiana to refer to poor farmers or ignorant, rustic people in general. It is one of the most well-known of state nicknames. True, there are Buckeyes of Ohio and the Tarheels of North Carolina, but none has had the popular usage accorded Hoosier.

The culture of Hoosiers is conservative, laid-back and may seem like hicks by persons from either coast, but not anymore backwards than anywhere else. They are an average folk in America’s heartland who live in small towns, sizeable communities and their suburbs. Hoosiers are known for their deep love for basketball, but only at the high school and college level, despite having an NBA team (Pacers). It is practically a religion, especially at tournament time. The RCA Dome in Indianapolis fills to capacity as high school teams compete in the state’s basketball tournaments. Hoosiers are often divided in loyalty between the Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers. The term “Hoosier Hysteria” describes the state’s love for basketball and was depicted in the movie Hoosiers. Auto racing is also big for Hoosiers and actually brings in more dollars than basketball. The Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 are held in Indianapolis and are the world’s two largest single-day sporting events. Hoosier dialect is diverse but may sound a bit southern to those from the upper Great Lakes, but not as distinct as Kentucky. Some with a southern draw live in and around the Indianapolis area and most points south. Hoosier culture, as of lately, has become famous for:

1. Complaining about your state of
Indiana rather than getting off your fat, lazy ass and doing something to
make it better.
2. Complaining about absolutely
everything, even the good that will
benefit their state.
3. Ignorantly complaining their state is the worst while not realizing it is average; some states are worse
and some are better.
4. Ignorantly complaining of the
alleged “lack of jobs,” while not
realizing it has faired better than
other regional states.
5. Refusing to adapt to change even for the better.
6. Ignorantly complaining about the alleged “lack of jobs” while also
complaining when a corporation wants
to expand in the state.
7. Blaming the good Governor for
everything, even the good.
8. Blaming the Governor for your
personal shortcomings.
9. Blaming the Legislature for your shortcomings.
10. Complaining about the poor quality of roads while also complaining
about road construction to improve
them.

Hoosiers are good people but constant whiners who act like they have no life.

St. Louis Meaning: white trash of the worst kind. Also used as an adjective to describe anything several notches below your own perceived sophistication. Dates back to a strike that occurred in St. Louis in the 30's. During this strike, scab workers from Indiana were brought in to fill in for strikers. The pejorative term hoosier stems from the St. Louis workers' lack of appreciation for this.

Noun:
Rob: Man, I didn't like that bar.
Mike: Yeah, it's full of hoosiers.

Adjective:
Edna: Did you see how she was dressed?
Cynthia: Yes, she is sooo hoosier.

Noun. Word used by St. Louisians to describe poor white trash found all across the proud state of Missouri. Often associated with trucks, lack of teeth, 80's hairstyles, gun fetish due to small penis, and lack of proper grammar. Commonly racist and person who prefers to drink cheap beer a college student would not touch.

"At least one term deserves special mention for, so far as can be learned, it is native to the prison. Every inmate knows its meaning and a great portion of them use the word. The term which seems unique in the prison is the word 'hoosier'. A 'hoosier' seems to be any person, inmate, or otherwise, who is objectionable. More specifically, it is used for stool pigeons, stupid persons, and officials. It seems to have no reference to Indiana and its etiology could not be learned".

"We go in at 8:45 and are razzed all along the line. When the night guard unlocks the cell we enter and the following conversation takes place:

"N.C.P. What the hell is that on the floor? Which is your bunk?
"Me: I don't know. The hoosier (galley boy) usually keeps this joint pretty clean. Your bunk's the top one, but if your mattress is better than mine, we'll sleep there.
"N.C.P. Some one's been eating peanuts and dropped 'em on the floor. I have to get up at 5:00 o'clock, don't I? Will he remember to call me? (The night guard.)
"I: You have to go out at 5:00 o'clock and he wakes you up at 4:00 so you can get dressed. If he don't call you, the screws won't get any breakfast.
"N.C.P. That hoosier better not bother me at 4:00 o'clock. What the hell do I care whether they get any breakfast or not! Oh, the dirty bastard!"

The most widely accepted definition of a hoosier: a hillbilly, hick, white trash, dirt bag, racist, provincial, ethnocentric, and/or scumbag. Typical interests of a hoosier includes: guns, pickup trucks, NASCAR, wife beating, neglecting pets, beating one's wife, mowing the grass, shooting animals, and drinking beer. A hoosier is commonly suspicious of outsiders, and will be uncomfortable in unfamiliar social situations. A hoosier can originate from any part of the world, but are found in highest concentration in the southern U.S. and Indiana (which is also known as the Alabama of the north). The term hoosier is an insult.

"Are you hoosier?"

"Yea good buddy! Let's keep it local! Gonna watch some NASCAR and drink some beer! Yeeee haw! Buddy, you don't have to be shy, I'm hoosier too--you can say all the racist thangs you want."